Dear Dr. Ellie:
Hi again. I don’t know where you sit on the whole issue (or whether you even consider it an issue to ponder!) regarding the origins of xylitol (hardwood, corn cobs, etc), but I found an interesting (albeit slightly sarcastically toned) article on the topic.
http://www.xylitolforyou.com/CvsTree.html
CB
Hi CB,
Very interesting article and thanks for sending it to me!
I actually take the origin of my xylitol seriously I worry about the origin of xylitol in the same way that I worry about the origin and purity of chocolate, milk or any other consumable.
Before starting the Zellies company, I paid a substantial amount of money to a researcher to find anything bad about xylitol anywhere in any journal, magazine or anything. All he came up with was a warning not to feed it to dogs. He also told me about the GMO problem with corn derived xylitol.
I decided to trust the Scandinavians to make Zellies xylitol gum (from renewable source hardwoods and birch origin). I knew this gum had been used in most of the original research so I knew it would work to control tooth decay. (As a dentist this was of vital importance to me).
Zellies mints are made in the USA. My importer of xylitol gave me a seminar much like this article. He described the importance of knowing your source going to visit the farms and developing a relationship with the vendor. If I buy chocolate I want it to be pure and good. I trust the vendor and the label.
I have worked to use the finest xylitol in Zellies products and make them with pure xylitol and no trickery. The ingredients are printed large and bold.
I give Zellies to my family and friends (we have eaten Zellies regularly for years). I never give my family or friends soda.
That should explain how seriously I take my xylitol!
Ellie Phillips, DDS
Categories: Xylitol
Hi All readers, Did you know that corn is universally contaminated with mycotoxins as reported in medical journals. Ask Doug on “know the cause” or look it up. That is why the ?? of corn in comsumption for humans esp. innocent children.
As with all food – you have to trust the hygiene and controls of any company that you deal with.There are dangers of food contamination in any food business from the way food is harvested, to the time that any food is served in a restaurant or packaged for the stores. For example, there have been recent problems with peanut butter – should we fear all peanut butter forever? You have to trust that the companies that produce and prepare your food products. They have to be ethical and knowledgeable about their products.I own a restaurant and it is known that many foods we serve have the potential to be hazardous- shellfish and chicken for example.To prevent any problems we have rigorous routines for preparing and cooking these foods – to eliminate this risk. All stages of xylitol production are strictly monitored. Xylitol is a food to be eaten, and is treated as such, with tests for all kinds of food contamination – at every stage. My passion is to help the public control dental disease. Have you considered that oral disease spreads on contaminated toothbrushes, when parents kiss their children and between children at day care and their siblings. The disease is spread in droplets of saliva that are transferred onto toothbrushes or during kissing and sharing food. Today this disease is rampant. Harmful germs travel from person to person, destroying the oral health of most Americans by the time they reach retirement. The disease inflicts pain and suffering on tiny children, taking many to emergency every day and some die. The impact of dental disease on someone’s general health is only recently being talked about in the media. I believe that for the health of our children, we should use the health benefits of one-two teaspoons a day of xylitol – to eliminate this destructive disease.I believe that you may not have considered the health benefits of a healthy mouth.Many “health concerned people” – take a one-size fits-all approach and do a “knee-jerk” reaction to words like fluoride or mycotoxins.I study these concerns and try to react most to the problems that are a real impact on my health. I worry far, far more about toothbrushes – they do carry mold spores and bacteria ! Your toothbrush needs daily disinfection. Let’s worry about the most important issues of oral health.Let’s keep our children completely cavity free so they can enjoy a lifetime of true oral health. Thanks for your concern and your question,Ellie